Abstract: A method is provided for servicing a jointed rotor blade of a wind turbine. The jointed rotor blade is positioned in a six o'clock position and a blade tip support element is secured to a tip section of the jointed rotor blade. A lift-support element is secured at a mounting location above the blade tip support element. A lifting line is coupled between the lift-support element and the blade tip support element. The tip section is separated from the root section of the jointed rotor blade such that the tip section is suspended above a support surface of the wind turbine via the blade tip support element and the lifting line. The tip section of the jointed rotor blade is serviced.

Abstract: A segmented rotor blade for a wind turbine. The segmented rotor blade including at least a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a joint. Each of the first and second blade segments including at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. A joint assembly coupling the first blade segment to the second blade segment via a dovetail connection at the joint. The joint assembly including at least one receiving section defining a receiving cavity, a joining structure received within the at least one receiving section to establish a dovetail connection, and a securement assembly securing the joining structure within the at least one receiving section so as to secure the dovetail connection.

Abstract: A method is provided for servicing a jointed rotor blade of a wind turbine. The jointed rotor blade is positioned in a six o'clock position and a blade tip support element is secured to a tip section of the jointed rotor blade. A lift-support element is secured at a mounting location above the blade tip support element. A lifting line is coupled between the lift-support element and the blade tip support element. The tip section is separated from the root section of the jointed rotor blade such that the tip section is suspended above a support surface of the wind turbine via the blade tip support element and the lifting line. The tip section of the jointed rotor blade is serviced.

Abstract: Rotor blades for a wind turbines include a structural support member disposed internal the rotor blade that extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length and an airfoil structure supported by the structural support member, the airfoil structure comprising a shell portion and at least one load-transferring exterior panel. The shell portion and the at least one load-transferring exterior panel combine to form an aerodynamic profile comprising a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a pressure side opposite a suction side. Moreover, the shell portion and the at least one load-transferring exterior panel are independently connected to the structural support member.

Abstract: A spar cap assembly for a jointed rotor blade of a wind turbine includes a root spar cap assembly and a tip spar cap assembly. The root spar cap assembly includes a root tensile spar cap and a root compressive spar cap, and is formed from a first composite material. The tip spar cap assembly includes a tip tensile spar cap and a tip compressive spar cap, and is formed from a second composite material that is different from the first composite material. The thickness of a joining end of the root tensile spar cap is different from the thickness of a joining end of the tip tensile spar cap, and the thickness of a joining end of the root compressive spar cap is different from the thickness of a joining end of the tip compressive spar cap.

Abstract: Structural support members includes a plurality of fiber reinforcing layers positioned on top of one another, wherein a plurality of intermediate fiber reinforcing layers are disposed between a top fiber reinforcing layer and a bottom fiber reinforcing layer, and wherein at least one of said fiber reinforcing layers comprises a first areal weight, and wherein at least one of said fiber reinforcing layers comprises a second areal weight different than the first areal weight. The structural support members further include a resin infused throughout the plurality of fiber reinforcing layers.

Abstract: Rotor blades for a wind turbines include a structural support member disposed internal the rotor blade that extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length and an airfoil structure supported by the structural support member, the airfoil structure comprising a shell portion and at least one load-transferring exterior panel. The shell portion and the at least one load-transferring exterior panel combine to form an aerodynamic profile comprising a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a pressure side opposite a suction side. Moreover, the shell portion and the at least one load-transferring exterior panel are independently connected to the structural support member.

Abstract: Rotor blades for wind turbines include a structural support member disposed internal the rotor blade that extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, an airfoil structure supported by the structural support member, and a support flange connecting the airfoil structure to the structural support member. The support flange includes a first wall connected to the structural support member, a second wall connected to the airfoil structure, and a connection wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall.

Abstract: Multi-material retrofitted wind turbine rotor blades include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, wherein the structural support member includes an original structural support portion including a first material and a retrofitted structural support portion extending from the original structural support portion at a joint and including a second material.